DNA Alzheimer’s Disease Test

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and other important mental functions. It is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 – 70% of approximately 48 million dementia cases per year. More than 90% of Alzheimer’s cases are the late-onset form, with symptoms not appearing until after 65 years of age.

What causes Alzheimer’s disease?

The cause of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is currently unknown, but is likely due to a combination of environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors. Variation in the APOE gene is the strongest genetic factor influencing the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. There are three common variants (alleles) of APOE, known as e2, e3 and e4. Each of us inherit two copies of the APOE gene, and our APOE genotype indicates our risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease:

e2/e2 – reduced risk

e2/e3 – reduced risk

e2/e4 – 3X increased risk

e3/e3 – does not affect your risk

e3/e4 – 3X increased risk

e4/e4 – 10X to 15X increased risk

Take this test to find out whether you are at risk and start making changes today to keep your brain healthy.

Brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, which means that the nerve cells (neurons) are dying in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Two abnormal structures, plaques and tangles, are detected in affected brains and are the prime suspects for increasing cell death and tissue loss. Plaques, made of a protein called beta-amyloid, stop the nerve cells from talking to each other. Tangles form when tau, a protein that normally forms parallel strings inside nerve cells, crumbles down to twisted messes. Without the proper tau tracks, cells are unable to move nutrients and other essential supplies around. It is thought that the build up of plaques and tangles ultimately causes cell death, as seen in Alzheimer’s disease brains.

Warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

Memory loss that disturbs daily life

Challenges in planning or solving problems

Difficulty performing familiar tasks

Confusion with time or place

Trouble understanding visual images or spatial relationships

New problems with words in speaking or writing

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Decreased or poor judgement

Withdrawals from work or social activities

Changes in mood or personality

Reducing your risk or Alzheimer’s disease

An understanding of your genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease encourages early monitoring and enables drug treatment to begin at early stages to delay progression of the disease. At-risk individuals should also focus on these six established ways to aid in a healthy elderly life:

Nutritious diet

Social engagement

Adequate sleep

Physical activity

Mental stimulation

Stress management

APOE genetics

The APOE gene encodes for apolipoprotein E, which is involved in transporting fats, neuronal growth, nerve regeneration, immunoregulation and injury repair in the central nervous system.

APOE is on chromosome 19 and each of us has two copies of APOE – one inherited from each parent. There are three forms or alleles of APOE – APOE e2, APOE e3 and APOE e4. We each inherit 1 of 6 possible combinations, known as our APOE genotype.

Three Easy Steps

Step 1: Order test kit online

Step 2: Collect DNA sample using a painless mouth swab, and mail to the lab in the provided return envelope